A monster who raped and sexually assaulted children in Coventry has now begun a 20-year prison sentence.

Nathan Potts was today jailed for his part in a horrific campaign of abuse by the Potts family that lasted for three decades.

They abused a number of children over a 30-year period and Nathan Potts was the last of six family members to be sentenced.

His punishment takes the family's total time in prison to over 70 years.

Nathan Potts

Nathan Potts' sentence

The 26-year-old, from Holbrooks, was found guilty earlier this year of two counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sex with another adult, following an eight-week trial.

He had been due to be sentenced earlier this month, but the sentencing hearing was delayed and instead took place today at Birmingham Crown Court.

Potts was sentenced to 20 years in prison with an extended licence of eight years.

What his victim's said

Impact statements written by Potts' victims were read out in court by prosecutor Simon Spence.

One victim stated: "I was really pleased when [Nathan and Joshua] were found guilty.

“My life has been a nightmare”

They said they had to “watch my back” after speaking to police and was “subject to verbal threats” from the Potts family.

The abuse they suffered at the hands of Nathan and Joshua Potts had left them prone to “angry outbursts”, they said, adding: “I lost many nights sleep at the prospect of giving evidence."

Birmingham Crown Court

Another victim spoke of the stress they felt during the police investigation and the crown court trial.

“I woke up in the night thinking about certain incidents,” they said. “I was so stressed and scared I felt physically sick.

“I hate them. They should be in prison for as long as possible.

“I feel so angry they abused me. They are dangerous people as they hurt children.”

A further statement from the father of a victim was also read out which stated: “I found it really hard to hear what was happening to children.

“I constantly worry that she will remember what happened to her.”

Mitigation

Adam Western, speaking for Potts at today's hearing, said: “A striking feature of the evidence was the usual standards of behaviour within the Potts family.

“It was within that, that he was brought up.

“Sexual activity involving children seems to have been accepted by senior members of the Potts family.”

Mr Western said that “environment” had “warped this young man’s mind” and added: “Given the verdicts he has to accept responsibility for his actions.

“[But] that criminal responsibility is reduced as given the environment in which he was raised, there was no reasonable prospect of him learning right from wrong given that upbringing.”

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Potts family child abuse case

What did the judge say?

Judge Peter Carr said that of Potts' four victims, one had described their life as “a nightmare” and another is “still deeply traumatised”.

“He speaks of the hate he has for you,” Judge Carr said of one victim. “He talks about being scared of you and you being dangerous for hurting children.”

The judge declared that he considers Potts to be dangerous and there could be “further significant impact on members of the public” from Potts.

He stated: “I have no hesitation in saying significant risk exists.”

Despite his decision on the danger Potts poses, Judge Carr decided against imposing a life sentence and instead passing an extended sentence.

This is made up of 20 years in prison, with a further eight years on licence on top of that.

Potts will serve at least two-thirds of 20-year sentence behind bars - 13 years and four months - before he is even considered for release and then only when the Parole Board consider is safe to do so.

If Potts is released before the end of the 20-year term he will serve the rest of that time on licence and then a further eight years due to the extended sentence.

Rest of the Potts family

Five of Nathan Potts' relatives have already been sentenced, including his brother Joshua who was jailed for 16 years with an extended licence to run for eight years after pleading guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against children.

Their half-brother, Antony Potts, was given a life sentence, with a minimum of 16 years behind bars, after being convicted of 13 counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and nine counts of inciting a child to perform a sexual act and cruelty - all against children.

Antony Potts

Also jailed were Nathan's parents - Keith Potts, 67, and his wife Julie Potts, 60, of Burnaby Road who were sentenced to eight and seven years custody respectively after being convicted of two counts of child cruelty.

And Antony's wife Elaine Potts, 50, and 42-year-old family friend Joanne Hoye both pleaded guilty to neglect and were sentenced to four years' custody each.

Time Line

How horror of child sex abuse case unfolded over 30 years

First report in 1989

The first person reported her six-year ordeal at the hands of Antony Potts to police in 1989, but the case was never brought to trial.

May 2015

Three more people, all under the age of 14, disclosed that they had been abused by Antony Potts and others to a third party, who reported the allegations to police.

July 2015

Deemed there was be insufficient evidence to bring charges against Potts et al.

Case re-opened

In January 2016 the testimony of a fifth person saw the case re-opened and the full extent of the abuse began to unfold

Trial begins

Birmingham Crown Court hosted the trial that was to last for eight weeks and began in April 2018

May 2018

Anthony Potts and half-brother Nathan found guilty of offences against children including rape, sexual assault and inciting a child to perform a sexual act

Other guilty verdicts

Nathan's parents Keith and Julie Potts (Keith is also Anthony's dad) both found guilty of two counts of cruelty to a child

Three others involved

Joshua Potts had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against children, while Elaine Potts and Joanna Hoye admitted neglect.

July 2018

Antony Potts was jailed for life for his crimes, while his half-brother Joshua was handed 16 years in prison

Other sentences

Keith Potts and Julie Potts were jailed for eight years and seven years respectively, while Elaine Potts and Joanne Hoye are serving four years each in prison.

Joshua Potts sentence

The 26-year-old was sentenced a day later and jailed for 16 years with an extended licence to run for eight years.

August 28

Nathan Potts was the final family member to be sentenced and was given 20 years in prison with an extended licence for eight years.

Victims first came forward in 1989

When West Midlands Police revealed the full horror of the Potts' crimes following an eight-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, they stated that officers were first approached by one of the victims back in 1989 but the case was never brought to trial.

In May 2015 three more individuals, all under the age of 14, disclosed that they had been abused by Antony Potts and others to a third party, who reported the allegations to police.

But in July of that year it was deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against the perpetrators.

Following exploration of facts and the testimony of a fifth person, the case was re-opened in January 2016 and the full extent of the abuse began to unfold, resulting in three further cases being identified.

Keith and Julie Potts

After months of careful investigation and support from partner organisations including Coventry Children’s Services, the Coventry Rape and Sexul Abuse Centre (Crasac) and the independent intermediaries appointed to support the child survivors, the defendants were brought to trial.

The force stated that the original investigation was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in 2016.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - the new name for the IPCC - released a statement on the case.

Joanne Hoye, Elaine Potts and Joshua Potts

What did the watchdog say?

A spokesman for the IOPC said: "Following a referral from West Midlands Police in June 2016 we began an investigation into the force’s handling of allegations of sexual abuse which were made against members of the Potts family in 1989.

"Our investigation was completed in June 2017 when we concluded from the evidence available that the police did not have enough to substantiate the allegations at that time, and that the investigative actions taken by police were reasonable and proportionate under the circumstances.

"In our view there was no indication that anyone serving with the police had behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings."